We have an above ground pool water has been clear all summer. had black stuff on bottom all summer. Have had to do maintenance every day, brushing, backwashing, rinsing, every time water was tested by the pool place all we needed was ph decreaser. They could not figure out why we continued to have black on the pool bottom. We also have an ionizer on pool. Today we took the ladder out of the pool to cover it for the winter and when we pulled it out of the water the inside of our ladder is full of algea. When the water started running out on the deck it was full of greenish black algea. Is there anyway to clean the inside of the ladder or should we buy a new one for next year?

The ladder is white and made of plastic. The sides of it have holes at the top,one on each side. The steps have holes in them. Once you put the ladder in the pool, it begins to fill at the holes in the steps. Then you take a water hose and fill each side of the ladder. The ladder turns downard to connect to the deck and is mounted there. W

Most pool ladders are made of stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust. This is a good thing, since a large portion of those ladders will be underwater in an environment that is highly conducive to rust formation. However, over time pool chemicals generally will create a situation where some rust will form on your pool ladders. While preventative maintenance is best, you can remove rust from your pool ladders and even delay further formation indefinitely with the right treatments.

Step 1Remove the ladder from the pool. Wipe down the ladder with a dry rag to make sure it is completely dry.

Step 2Combine a cup of baking soda and a cup of the powdered cleanser in a bucket. Add enough water to make a thick, spreadable paste.

Step 3Coat the entire surface of the ladder with your cleaning paste. Depending on how big the ladder is, you may have to mix more paste. Make sure that any rusted spots in particular are completely hidden beneath the paste.

Step 4Dampen your nylon scrubber and get to work. If you can see the "grain" of the stainless steel, try to scrub mainly with the grain. However, this is not always visible on pool ladders, so you may just have to scrub. As you scrub, the baking soda and cleanser will remove the rust.

Step 5Rinse down the ladder. Use a garden hose to rinse all of the remaining paste off the ladder. Use plenty of water, and keep an eye out for spots of rust you may have missed. If necessary, you can hit them again with the cleaning paste and scrubber.

Step 6Dry the ladder. Use firm pressure and buff it with a clean, dry cloth. Make sure that the metal is completely dry before you move on.

Step 7Wax the ladder. A layer of automotive wax can dramatically improve your ladder's odds when it comes to battling rust. Use a clean rag to apply the wax in circular motions. You will likely need to let the wax set for 10 to 30 minutes, but since all brands are slightly different, refer to the specific manufacturer's instructions to determine how long to wait after application before buffing.

Step 8Buff the pool ladder parts. Use a clean, dry rag and firm pressure. Once all the excess wax has been removed, your sparkling pool ladder is ready to be replaced in the pool.

jasper22, I think you have got it wrongThey are not talking about rust but algae which can be treated with chlorine (bleach) Also the steps are plasticYour baking soda will raise TA, whether this is desirable or not